Scouring mesh



July 20, 1965 A. W. AMSEN SCOURING MESH Filed May 31, 1963 INVENTOR /LF/?0 nz qmsm ATTORNEY United States Patent F 3,195,160 SQOURING MESH Alfred W. Amsen, Kingston, N.Y. (61 S. Chestnut St, New Paltz, N.Y.) Filed May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 284,596 7 Claims. (G. -269) This invention relates to resurfacing tools, and more particularly to a mesh for removing a finish from a surrace.

In refinishing operations it is frequently desirable to remove an existing finish, which may be marred, before the application of the new finish. Conventional methods for accomplishing this include scraping, abrading, burning, and the use of chemicals. Generally speaking, each of these methods will accomplish the desired result if carried out properly, the principal difference among the methods for any given job being in the time spent, the effort required, and the cost involved.

The present invention utilizes a form of cutting and scraping action in a tool that is economical to produce, that requires little eiiort in use, and that accomplishes the job in minimum time. In accordance with the invention this tool comprises a woven metallic mesh composed of individual metallic strands with serrated edges. The strands are formed with serrated edges from sheet stock. The strands are twisted axially after formation and prior to being formed into a mesh. The resultant mesh presents a cutting surface of sharp points which may be moved easily across a finished surface to cut through the finish and remove it from the underlying surface. The woven mesh structure can be incorporated in any conventional holder, or it can be adapted for use in power tools such as disc and orbital sanders.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a serrated strip formed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the serrated strip shown in FIG. 1 after the twisting operation;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a metallic mesh woven from twisted serrated strips such as shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention in which the pointed serrations are replaced by rounded edges.

The invention will be understood more readily by making reference to the drawings in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a serrated strip indicated generally by the numeral 1. The strip 1 is formed, for example, from a sheet of cold-rolled steel, which is stamped in a die to obtain the serrated configuration shown. The serrations are formed so that the sides 3, 5, and '7, 9 are respectively parallel, and the angles formed by these sides are less than 90. In the preferred embodiment, opposite peaks and valleys of the serrated strip 1 are kept in substantial alignment thereby maintaining a uniform width and insuring maximum tensile strength, the tensile strength being particularly important during the twisting operations more fully described hereinafter. it will be appreciated, however, that the present invention contemplates non-aligned strips of varying width. The serrations, or teeth, thus formed provide a cutting action when they are drawn across the finish adhering to a surface. Since in practice a plurality of strips may be formed simultaneously, an other advantage of the interlocking tooth structure is that the only waste material after shearing is the boundary edges of the cold rolled steel. The size and number of teeth will be determined by the specific cutting function to be provided.

$395,159 Patented July 20, 1965 FIG. 2 of the drawings shows the metallic strip 1 of FIG. 1 after it has been axially twisted throughout its length so that the serrations no longer lie substantially within a single plane. The serrations l1, 13, 15 and 17 of FIG. 2 are disposed in all directions and all lie in ditferent planes. While the planar strip shown in FIG. 1 is limited in its effectiveness as a cutting agent because of the orientation of the serations, it will be appreciated that the twisted strip of FIG. 2 is not so limited, but provides effective cutting action regardless of the orientation of the strip in relation to a particular surface.

FIG. 3 shows a fragmentary view of a mesh structure woven with the metallic strips shown in FIG. 2. The mesh comprises a plurality of horizontal strips 19, 21 and 23 which are interlaced with vertical, or shuttle, strips 25, 27, 29 and 31. The criss-cross pattern shown is such that the shuttle strips 25, 27, 29 and 31 alternately underlie and overlie the horizontal strips 19, 21 and 23 to form a woven mesh. The top and bottom surfaces of the mesh contain many randomly disposed serrations to produce a structure which is outstanding in its ability to remove finishes, such as paint. The woven, twisted strips provide cutting action in all directions, and the mesh configuration produces a maximum cutting surface with a minimum of material.

The acute angle formed by the sides of the serrations produces the cutting action on the finish to be removed, and the pressure required is considerably less than that necessitated in an abrasive operation. An abrasive operation is characterized by an obtuse tool angle. The present structure has additional advantages over an abrasive process in that the time required to remove an old finish is much less than by abrading. This is because the cutting action produces a deeper penetration at each stroke than that produced by an abrasive action with the same pressure.

The woven mesh configuration of FIG. 3 provides an overall surface cutting action with a minimum of mate rial and is particularly adaptable for use with holders or power tools.

In some instances it may be desirable to produce a mesh in which the cutting action is minimized, but which retains the advantages of the random disposition of the active elements of the serrated strip shown in FIG. 2. In such case a configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 4 may be utilized. In FIG. 4 a metallic strip, generally indicated by the numeral 41, is shown with a plurality of undulations or rounded edges such as those indicated by the numerals 43 and 45. In this instance, as in the case of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the opposing peaks and valleys of each undulation are maintained in substantial alignment so that a uniform width of the strip is maintained throughout its length. The strip 41 of FIG. 4 is twisted and formed or woven into a mesh structure in the same fashion as the serrated strip shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As an example of a mesh structure formed in accordance with the principles of the invention, a sheet of cold rolled steel 0.008 inch in thickness may be punch-pressed with a serrated die to obtain metallic strips approximately 0.080 inch in width. These strips are then formed with approximately 8 twists per inch and Woven into a mesh having a /s inch center spacing between horizontal wires and a A inch spacing between shuttle wires. The interstices, such as 33 and 35, in the mesh allow portions of the removed finish to work free and prevent clogging of the mesh.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the mesh of the present invention provides a resurfacing tool which requires a nominal effort in use to provide maximum penetration and a resultant overall surface cutting function. The woven configuration enables the use of a single thickness and produces maximum tool surface from minimum materials, while the non-woven configuration combines maximum tool surface with economy of fabrication.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with referencetto preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mesh structure for abrading the surface of an object comprising a plurality of horizontally and vertically disposed metallic strips having undulated edge portions, said strips being axially twisted throughout their lengths and criss-crossed in underlying and overlying relationship to form a woven mesh having randomly disposed undulations.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said undulated edge portions are of serrated configuration.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said undulated edge portions are of substantially rounded configuration.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said axially twisted horizontal and vertical strips are frictionally secured at their intersections to form interstices, said interstices retarding clogging'of the mesh by allowing portions of said surface of said objects to work free.

5. A mesh structure for abrading the surface of an object comprising a plurality of horizontally and vertically disposed metallic strips having undulated edge portions, said strips being axially twisted throughout their lengths and disposed in alternately underlying and overlying relationship to form a reticulated mesh structure having a plurality of randomly disposed cutting portions whereby a cutting action is provided by said plurality of randomly disposed cutting portions when said mesh structure is moved across said surface of said object.

6. A combination according to claim 5 wherein said undulated edge portions are of serrated configuration adapted to remove the finish from a surface.

7. A combination according to claim 5 wherein said undulated edge portions are of substantially rounded configuration.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 373,177 11/87 Einbigler et a1. 15-238 1,118,255 11/14 Akin. 1,482,016 1/24 Kingman 15209.5 2,152,697 4/39 Kingman 15209.5 2,589,531 3/52 Brooks 15-236 X 2,774,400 12/56 Frickhofen 143133 X FOREIGN PATENTS 24,656 of 1904 Great Britain.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MESH STRUCTURE FOR ABRADING THE SURFACE OF AN OBJECT COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY DISPOSED METALLIC STRIPS HAVING UNDULATED EDGE PORTIONS, SAID STRIPS BEING AXIALLY TWISTED THROUGHOUT THEIR LENGTHS AND CRISS-CROSSED IN UNDERLYING AND OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP TO FORM A WOVEN MESH HAVING RANDOMLY DISPOSED UNDULATIONS. 